Prime Minister Christopher Luxon met with China’s President Xi Jinping during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Peru.
This marked Luxon’s first meeting with the leader of New Zealand’s largest trading partner. The discussion took place amid global uncertainty about U.S. foreign policy following President-elect Donald Trump’s victory.
Earlier, Luxon participated in a panel on “prosperity,” emphasising the importance of a “rules-based” international system for security and economic growth. He urged leaders to adapt global rules to create stability, which he said is key to improving people’s lives. “It’s a wake-up call post-COVID,” Luxon said, highlighting the need for cooperation between nations.
In his comments, Luxon noted a shift from focusing solely on efficiency before the pandemic to prioritising resilience now. He warned against nations acting solely in their own interests, calling for global unity to tackle shared challenges.
Luxon’s meeting with Xi followed a conversation with Peru’s President Dina Boluarte. They discussed boosting trade under the CPTPP agreement, with Boluarte suggesting increased exports of Peruvian products like blueberries, asparagus, and avocados.
President Xi was also scheduled to meet U.S. President Joe Biden at APEC, as countries awaited clarity on economic policies, including potential tariffs proposed by the incoming U.S. administration.
